The road works in Trafalgar Road/Church Road in Portslade show just how critical a north/south link between the A27 and the A259 is.

At present, heavy lorries are fanning out over the whole of the Shoreham to Hove area, allowing everyone to experience in a small way the noise, vibration and pollution which the residents in Portslade normally have to put up with.

They are enjoying a three-month break in the traffic but are learning to live with the chaos of the closed road.

It is clear that even a reinforced road will not be adequate for the potential levels of traffic travelling from the A27 to the port and the seafront.

Soon the A259 will be feeling the increase of traffic from Ropetackle and later the King Alfred site and the much-needed development at the Lady B Marina. The port is also attracting increased custom with its big blue crane speeding the unloading of heavy cargoes.

All this extra traffic needs a link road. Our view is that this can only be via a tunnel. This choice would limit noise, dust and the dangers caused by the proximity of vehicles and people. It would solve the problem of crossing the railway line and could be built through residential areas.

Even if the cost of a bored tunnel is too great, a cut-and-cover option would allow all the advantages of the tunnel at a lower cost.

There are a number of potential routes such a tunnel could follow and members of the Association of Harbour Communities have been looking at these.

We would be happy to hear any views on this matter.

The key problem is who pays for the tunnel? We need the support of the Government as well as local business in obtaining funding.

The potential profit and improvement to this area is clearly illustrated by the original harbour development proposals in the Moss Plan but we need politicians and businesses to recognise this.

Our association will try to do this but we need support and ideas.

Please let me or The Argus know your views and encourage real debate about the road link.

For years many people have said it will never happen, so why not be different and suggest how it can be done?

Communities,

-Church Road, Portslade